Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-08-19

|stock OF my rife resting
upon my. right foot, and my left
arm thrown across the muzzle. AS /
Was about to lift the piece preparatory
to taking my position, for some anac-
conntable reason it was prematurely
DISCHARGED. Ifelt no pain at the in
slant. but my arm dropped to my
side as lifeless as the withered branch
OF a tree. My companions sprang to
my relief, and [ was assisted to nv
home by one Of the most downcast ri.
fe teams that you ever saw. In addi-
ton to their sympathy with me, they
saw defeat again overshadowing them.
For nine weeks [ was practically an
invalid. At the end OF that time my
arm had healed sufficiently to allow
q wooden extension to be attached to
the stump, and this, sir, is the iden-
teal piece OF the wood which has
served me as lett arm from that
day to this. When I had become
somewhat accustomed to my artificial
limb, thought one day I would try
and see how it would serve me
in the use OF my rifle. So
went out into big lot, not
far from the place where l lived,
and began blazing at an impro.
vised target in the shape of sheet OF
paper with big ink spot in it's center,
which represented the bullseye. After
a few trials I found that my wooden
arm was a very good substitute for
the one that I had lost, and before I
finished my practice shoot, l was able
to land about every other bullet
squarely in the mixed portion OF my
little target. This practice I continu-
ed for about a week, the accuracy OF
my aim at the end of that time being
almost perfect. Not soul III the vii
lage knew that l had regained my old
form OF craftsmanship, and it was my
purpose that they should not. The
team to which I belonged had, in the
meantime, suffered almost continu-
Gus series OF defeats, and was upon
the point of disbanding when I made
known to the boys the intelligence
that | would be pleased to join them
when next they met to try conclusions
with their oft-victorious competitor.
1.-The day of meeting arrived, and
we assembled at the range. l was the
recipient OF many congratulations by
my friends, and even my rivals
could not forego extending to me a
small measure Of thankfulness for the
rapid recovery from my unfortunate
accident. But during the shooting l
noticed them on several occasions
secretly convercing about my wooden
arm, and one Of them was bold enough
to ask me what intended to do with
my wooden arm-that certainly did
not think there was the ghost of a
chance OF doing them any harm under
such conditions. made no reply, be.
lieving within myself that I had a sur
prise in store for my inquisitive friend.
The firing progressed, and it began to
look as if the day was again to be
lost to the Cohasset boys. Do what
they would, they could not keep peace
with their rivals, and when the last
man except myself had finished his
score the totals showed that l must
make ten bullseys in succession to
even win by one point. The out.of
town boys felt highly elated at their
success, and were morally conf.
dent that they had an insurmount-
able lead as a result OF the days
shooting. Isaid nothing but stepped
to the shooting line with fixed deter
mination Of giving our exultant rivals
q great big piece OF chargrin to carry
home with them. They watched my
movements closely, and when lifted
my wooden arm into position and
rested the bright, smooth barrel OF my
rifle upon it., could see that they were
suppressing a smile at the unusual fig
ure presented. I kept my nerves
we'll in hand, however, and drew
careful bead upon the center of the
target before me. The sharp crack OF
my rifle rang out with unusual clear.
ness and all eyes were directed to the
| point where the leaden messenger had
fled. Then up went the signal from the
| attendant at the target which showed
chat I had found the bullseye. Again
and again pierced the black centre O,
the target, and again and again my
| opponents marveled among them.
selves. l had made nine bullseyes in
| succession, and there remained only
| one more to get to carry of the vic
tory OF the day. Could l do it? That
remained to seen, but l would put
forth every effort to accom-.
plish the coveted prize. J
loaded my rifle with unusua,
care and stepped into position W it'll.
out displaying the least trace OF nerv.
BUSINESS, but I can tell you it took
great effort to keep my nerves from
| going off INTO a tantrum. For the
tenth time I brought my wooden arm
i into position. and taking careful aim,
pulled the trigger. can tell you there
was q moment OF awful quietness
| while the target-tender was searching
for the trace OF my last shot. Finally
| up went his signal announcing that
my aim had been as perfect as be.
fore-ten bullseyes IN succession.
Oh, if you only could have heard the
shout that went up from the throats
| OF those Cohassett boys. 1VeriIy be.
lieve it made the sun tremble. The
feelings OF the defeated team can BE-
imagined. Time after time We met in
competition, but the tables had been
turned, and never again were we de.
feated by the out-of-towners.," 3Aud
the old man gave chuckle, as though
in his minds eye he saw Il picture Of
the scene he had so infinitely describ-
ed. 4lguess l will go now" said he,
'tfor I promised to meet my grand.
son, who is employed at the Adams"
With limbs OF surprising activity the
non-agenarian made his way down
stairs and along the crowded sidewalk
| OF Washington street, until he reached
the aboye.named hosiery, within
whose doors he suddenly Disappeared.
Il
C0l0rcd People in London.
Crawiord's Letter in New York World.
Coiored people are apparently very
popular in England. There does not